PUBLIC MEETING AT TUAPEKA WEST.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XX, Issue 1429, 15 February 1888, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING AT TUAPEKA WEST.

A public meeting of settlers was held in the achoolhouse, Tuapeka West, last Saturday evening to determine the rates to be paid for harvesting and threshing in the district during the present season, j There was a large attendance, a number of harvest hands being also present. Mr T. E. Williams occupied the chair. J The Chairman said there had been a j lot of talk because the name of the convener did not appear at the foot of the advertisement calling the meeting that evening. He thought it was a matter of indifference whether the name of the convener was disclosed or otherwise. The party who called the meeting deserved credit for so doing. In the past the settlers through want of combination had suffered to a considerable extent. Men would come along and say that Mr So-and-so was giving so much for harvesting ; while the truth was that the farmer in question was paying a lower rate. This was merely a device on the part of the harvester to get a better wage than he was likely to be offered. By meeting there that evening the settlers could arrange upon an uniform rate ; so that a stop could be put to the reports always in circulation that one farmer was giving a higher rate of wages than another when such was really not the case. A lengthened desultory conversation followed, in which a number of the settlers and harvesters took part. Eventually, on the motion of Mr C. Mullins, seconded by Mr J. Macdonnell, it was resolved " that harvesters be paid 7d per hour during the current season."

Mr Dampsey (one of the harvest hands) proposed an amendment to the effect that the rate be Bd, but the Chairman declined to accept it. The meeting, he remarked, was called in the interests of the farmers — not of the harvest men. The latter, if they felt disposed, could call a meeting on their own account, and, if dissatisfied with the rate of wages offered, appoint a deputation to interview the settlers.

Mr Jno. Smith (settler) considered 7d an hour was too small a wage for harvesting. The men deserved a penny an hour more. — [Mr Smith's remarks were heartily applauded by the harvesters.] Mr J. Fahey proposed: "That the rate of wages for threshing be 8d per hour." — Seconded by Mr Muliins, and carried unanimously. Mr J. Mackay proposed that the rates for threshing be 7s 6d per 100 bushels for oats and 8s for wheat." — Mr Macdonnell seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.

Mr Mackay said he hoped the farmers, after passing resolutions agreeing to certain rates for harvesting and threshing, would not do 4i was invariably done —

agree to pay certain rates at a public meeting and thereafter, to suit their own ends, fail to remember that suoh resolutions had been passed. He hoped all the farmers present would stand by the resolutions agreed to that evening. The meeting then dispersed.